Does anyone have and input on a portable carport somewhere around 12 x 20 that they can suggest. A couple things I would like it to have is a door at both ends and walls that roll up. I have a band-saw mill in the works and planning to place it on an old concrete pad that had a shed on it at one time. I want to try and protect it from the elements and also would like it covered in the summer to provide some shade but be able to open the sides to get some air flow when it is warmer. I would rather spend a little more now and get one that is a little better quality and what I want rather than have to go through it again in the near future. Any input or suggestions would be appreciated.
It seems like the fabric buildings always end up collapsing, blowing away or ripping. Since you're protecting a multi-thousand dollar investment, I'd look into either a metal carport or build one out of wood. The fabric structures aren't really rated for any significant snow load, and a decent one isn't going to be much cheaper than a metal carport of the same dimensions.
I have thought about building one but never thought about a metal one. Something else to consider. Thanks for the input.
I can see where this is going. Looks like a trip to the lumber yard will be in the future. Might be a little more cost to start but sure it will be better in the end.
It looks like most of CT is around a 30 PSF roof snowload Something like this would work. It wouldn't be too hard to make roll up sides out of some HD tarps. Arrow 12 ft. W x 20 ft. D Charcoal Galvanized Steel Carport, Car Canopy and Shelter-CPHC122007 - The Home Depot
How are you going to get the logs to the mill? Will you be pulling the mill out of the carport? Side supports would get in the way to getting logs to the mill if left inside. Maybe I'm missing something
No you are not missing anything , working on figuring that out, trying to think of some sort of bunks or rollers I could load them in from the end , then roll them onto the mill. Still in the early stages of figuring this all out. I'm sure I will come up with something. Thanks for the thoughts. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks , I will keep this in mind. Going to do some homework on this when I get some time. I need to figure out the cost of a wood structure verses something like this. Neither one is going to be cheap but I'm knee deep in it now. No turning back from this point.
Well when you have a sawmill you’ll have lumber I’d set it up first and learn the ropes cutting for myself first. I’ve seen in videos where some folks just build a small shed for the rear of the mill leaving the frame outside. Think they even have doors to close to keep snow out and off the carriage/engine. Maybe cover the track with sheets of plywood?
I watched lots of youtube vids a year or so ago of a guy sawing. He put his rig on a slab under a metal carport type shed. He was able to take out several of the legs where he needed to load logs by putting in a good sized header. Might be an option...
That was a 14x20x12T tent garage and they have been discontinued and have gone to 15x20. But you can get them custom sizes from what I've seen. To be fair, I had the tent that collapsed set up in a high wind area. Even with cables shot into the ground (versus the screws they normally come with), that sucker got moved back about a foot by the wind - jumping rebar that was sticking up 12" above the rail to prevent that very thing. If you get the 2-1/4" pipe, they are a lot stronger than the one I had. OTOH, the heavy duty fabric (not the standard fabric) is tough as nails and is still keeping the sides of the structure up (besides the ton of pellets in the back corner that you can see in the 2nd picture). I looked into a metal carport combo 20x24 building and pouring a pad (to replace not only the tent but my 8x10 shed). By the time I got done counting up the heavier steel and added supports (every 4' instead of every 8) for snow load, I was so close to what it would cost to put up a wood building that it wasn't funny. If I had a more sheltered spot to put the tent garage, I have no doubt it would still be standing - it wasn't really the snow that took it out but the weakening the supports by constant movement in the wind.
I live near lake micro bursts happen. One flipped over my 24 foot 52” deep above ground pool so I never considered port o garage. I have had 2 in yard. buzz-saw where you live why not a shipping container?
I'm in Connecticut , I guess you would call it southern Ct. A shipping container would be to narrow , plus I need something that wouldn't look so out of place. I live in a residential neighborhood . A portable carport is about as far as I would go without it not being out of place. There are some of them around here but never saw any containers in my area. Not sure the town will allow them ? Really think I am just going to do wood so that it is a little more appealing to the eye and won't look out of place. I won't be able to do anything until spring time now but by the time the ground thaws , the saw gets here and I get it up and running it will probably spring anyway. I still need to process some wood and get the area cleaned up as well. I have a lot of work to do in order to get this going. Thanks for the input.
In my neck o the woods, "portable sheds" can be placed anywhere on your property within the building setback lines. No foundation required. You could build a shed with lumber from your mill, but if you want to build the shed first, look for sawmills in your area. I am completing a run in shed for our horses and was going to get the lumber from Lowes or HD. The total cost at L/HD for the lumber and plywood was $3,000 and that was with my 10% military discount. And they didn't have it all in stock. Total cost from my local sawmill is under $1,000 for poplar. I used 1x6 for the roof deck, 2x6 rafters and walls, and had the mill custom cut two 3x12 18' beams. Walls will be 1x8 vertical red oak with 1x3 battens. Will send pics today after the sun comes up.
Yeah I would go with sorry to derail but I find southern Connecticut funny; I mean state is roughly 50 miles tall and 100 miles wide. My mother’s sister lives outside Hartford
Yeah everything about this state is funny ; including our Governor and our taxes ; " now thats funny!!" Hey not as bad as " southern Rhode Island", but it's close. Great thought , on the local mill. I know of one not far from my work that I could start with. I was hoping to have some sort of cover before I set the mill up , That's the hope anyway.
Methinks you may find the cost between wood and steel may make you think more toward steel. Even if you put sides on you can always remove them, but with both ends open that should keep it cooler and really cool in winter months. Here are 2 steel sheds we have.
Backwoods Savage I thought about that but discarded idea as he is so close to ocean; thinking corrosion.
I think it would still be fine. I think from what OP describes, I would put up just the carport (roof only) and then have a local tarp shop make sides for it that can be taken off/rolled up...
